This article deals with the parable known as ‘The Rich Man and Lazarus’ or ‘Abraham’s Bosom’. In the book Love Wins Rob Bell uses this parable to teach that hell is more a state of mind than an actual place and that if we can change our mindset we can be free from hell. He teaches that hell is not forever and in eternity we will have the option to be set free. Is this sound teaching? Where does this understanding come from? According to Bell this is laid out for us in the parable of ‘Abraham’s Bosom’. What is a Parable? The simple and direct definition provided by Merriam-Webster…

I have an inquiring mind. I always have questions which when answered lead to more questions and I never accept things at face value. I often find myself as the “devil’s advocate” in discussions when I see a group in agreement. I also try to know the opposing side’s reasoning as much as possible – sometimes as well as the opposition itself. I firmly believe what I believe but am continually seeking to test my beliefs under all scrutiny. To put a formal title on an informal position – I am an Apologist. Not that I have any official role as such but in my mentality – especially when relating…

Aion and Olam aion – noun [age, aeon] aionios – adjective [eternal] ‘Aion’ is a Greek noun translated as ‘age’. It’s adjective counterpart, ‘aionios’, is translated as ‘eternal’. Aionios is commonly used to describe the age referred to as everlasting. Love Wins uses many passages, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, as examples of the usage of the two words, ‘olam’ in the Hebrew and ‘aion’ in the Greek. The argument presented is that both words are defined as ‘age’ and as such they are not eternal but rather a determined period of time. The next conclusion is that the Bible never states an eternal punishment as…

I just finished reading the new book ‘Love Wins’ by Rob Bell. The book is subtitled ‘A book about heaven, hell and the fate of every person who ever lived’. With a subtitle like that it sounds like it will have some definitive statements on the future of mankind. Doesn’t it? Does it? If you’re not familiar with ‘Love Wins’ let me introduce you to the drama. This book has been a hot topic for the past few weeks since its release, and rightly so. It deals with questions that are current and on everyone’s mind. Is there really a Hell? Does a loving God send people there because they…

Matthew chapter 12 begins with Jesus and his disciples walking through a field when the disciples picked some grains in the field and ate. The observing Pharisees challenged their obedience to the Sabbath law claiming they should not be working. Jesus’ rebuttal to their scorn was an excellent exegetical lesson from scripture on the meaning of the Sabbath law and Jesus declaring his divine authority. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:7-8) During that same day as Jesus healed a man with a withered hand;…